Berardino: Vargas Drawing Interest In Asia

[Nick Nelson]

With the Twins likely to bring aboard Korean slugger Byung-ho Park, some fans have been wondering just what that would mean for Kennys Vargas, who is one of the incumbent options in the DH role that Park is expected to fill.

 

According to Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press, Vargas could end up switching places with Park and heading to the Far East. Berardino states that the 25-year-old "has drawn interest from at least one professional team in Asia," adding that the interest is mutual:

 

http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_29125032/twins-kennys-vargas-drawing-interest-from-korea-japan

 

Given his raw hitting ability, the immensely powerful Vargas could undoubtedly find more chances in the major leagues, even if they're not with the Twins, but he might embrace the chance to play a couple seasons across the globe. In Berardino's article, a Twins official notes that Vargas could make a lot of money overseas thanks to his big personality and spectacular home run distances, and by putting up monster numbers in the Korean or Japanese league (which I'm quite confident he would), Vargas might pump some life into his market here stateside. 

 

In such a scenario, the Twins would earn some money for selling Vargas' rights, helping offset the cost of bringing Park aboard, for what that's worth.

 

What do you think? Would this be a good move for the Twins, and/or for Vargas?

[SF Twins Fan]

Is he out of options with the Twins? If he isn't out of options I think it would be best to keep him, because you never know what you're going to get from Park. If he's out of options though I'd at least like to see if he could be included in a deal that would bring some prospects in return. Obviously it's not my money, but to me sending him there just to save some money seems cheap on the Pohlads.

[bluechipper]

Not to knock Vargas or anything, but he'd probably be wise to cash in now and make as much money as possible, because he doesn't look like he'll be much more than a fringe bench/AAAA guy in the States.

 

Still, I am surprised that this is an option though because I don't recall a lot of 25 year olds on 40 man rosters considering this.

[jokin]

 

Is he out of options with the Twins? \

 

 

No

[Winston Smith]

It would appear that the Twins don't see a bright future for Vagas or they likely wouldn't have spent the money on Park. Seems early to give up on the  guy, imo.

[maxisagod]

Vargas has always been a personal favorite of mine, so I'd like to see the Twins keep him, in case Park isn't ready for a starting spot, or an Injury. and just in case he goes all David Ortiz.....

For him personally, making 10 times what he would in AAA or twice what he would with the Twins is good security and if he does well  he'll   become a free agent the following year with his pick of any team in either hemisphere... so it's probably a good move for him as a player.

[HitInAPinch]

Interesting.  The question for Vargas is:  do you think the Twins will have room for you as a full time DH next year?  With the likes of Mauer, Sano and Arcia around, it would be a pretty tight fit for the big guy.

 

And I'm not even counting Park......

[Thrylos]

Vargas is one of the two (3-now with Palka) players in the Organization who can hit the ball out as Lefties.  The Twins do not need to get rid of him, they might need him in the majors at some point.  If and when he is out of options that discussion should be had then.

 

But Ryan did not think much of Big Papi, not sure that he will not repeat his mistake with Baby Papi.

[PseudoSABR]

It would have to be a significant amount of cash to sway me this is a good idea.  Until Vargas is out of options, he should be kept as injury insurance in AAA, with the hope of either reestablishing trade value stateside or being a meaningful part time player in the offense.  

 

This route seems more logical for an Arcia or a Santana, who must be rostered in order to be retained.

[TheLeviathan]

Yeah, not sure I see an upside to this. Seems like the worst kind of giving up I could imagine for a player with his team control and valuable assets as a player.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Yeah, not sure I see an upside to this. Seems like the worst kind of giving up I could imagine for a player with his team control and valuable assets as a player.

 

This. No way I'd send him overseas, especially with an option left. 

[sane]

The Twins and "Twins Daily" need to stop deciding who will hit and who will NOT hit six months from now.

Last season, Santana, Vargas and Arcia were slam-dunks in November and skunks in April. Keep everybody, add, don't subtract until about June.

[DaveW]

The Twins and "Twins Daily" need to stop deciding who will hit and who will NOT hit six months from now.

Last season, Santana, Vargas and Arcia were slam-dunks in November and skunks in April. Keep everybody, add, don't subtract until about June.

I dont think Vargas is anything real special, but there is absolutely zero reason to get rid of him for nothing at this point.

[twinsnorth49]

Yeah, with an option left, why?

[gunnarthor]

If I were Vargas, I'd want this to happen although I'm not sure if the Twins would.

[Shaitan]

This post is just a PR move by the Twins to garner trade attn, right? Because it feels really hollow.

[gunnarthor]

I'm not sure if it's posturing - outside of Twins fans, Vargas has never been highly regarded. 

 

He has big power but was never a top prospect (Klaw has labeled him a AAAA player) and the problems in his approach aren't a secret.  This might just be the Twins hoping to get something ($) out of a guy they know is expendable and won't be on their 40 man roster come April.   

[nicksaviking]

This post is just a PR move by the Twins to garner trade attn, right? Because it feels really hollow.

Bluffing like this doesn't sound like the Twins, but I agree, surely some teams would value a switch hitting 25-year-old slugger, even for the bench, I can't believe the twins couldn't get an A ball lotto ticket at least. I mean hypothetically if they DFA'd him, he'd get claimed wouldn't he?

[Hrbowski]

Trade him to the Red Sox, Ortiz can't be around much longer.

[jorgenswest]

Vargas is absolutely the kind of depth they need in AAA. They can't waste the option. If he is tearing up AAA, he has trade value or maybe Mauer comes up with a phantom injury and he takes over at 1B.

 

I can't see any downside of keeping him until spring 2017.

[jorgenswest]

Two projections out this far. Vargas is projected to have a slightly better OPS than Mauer by both(.002 and .010) in 2016. Is it possible that he will contribute more to the offense than Mauer as soon as next year? Could that difference be significant in 2017? Will there come a time that releasing Mauer and giving the job to Vargas leads to more wins? Of course they can avoid that possibility (likelihood?) by sending Vargas to Asia.

[DaveW]

The odds of Mauer getting released are only slightly better then him going back to catcher.

 

It's. Not. Going. To. Happen.

[jorgenswest]

i agree. Not going to happen. The Twins would rather lose more games than deal with the lack of relative productivity at first base.

[DaveW]

i agree. Not going to happen. The Twins would rather lose more games than deal with the lack of relative productivity at first base.

I think Mauer has a bounce back season personally, and when they make the playoffs (in 16 or 17) I think he comes up huge and becomes closer to "Puckett like" amongst the masses. (He already is a better player then Puckett IMO)

 

Just a couple gut feelings.

[ashbury]

The odds of Mauer getting released are only slightly better then him going back to catcher.

 

It's. Not. Going. To. Happen.

Moderator's note: if I wake up tomorrow and find a thread on Vargas has turned into yet another Mauer thread...

[jorgenswest]

Is it reasonable to have a thread in Vargas' future with the team without considering the dismal production at firstbase. The ranked 13th in the AL last year and have a player in decline at the position. Vargas is a potential solution.

[twinsnorth49]

Wait.....Mauer is going to Korea?.............Wut?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Vargas was brought up as a first baseman and Mauer is presently emplaced there ahead of him. Neither is going to be winning a gold glove any time soon. Sounds like the Twins want to make a serious run and are hoping/betting on Mauer reverting to old form.

[kab21]

There is no reason for this to happen.  Vargas is the odd man out with Park, Mauer and Sano (and Plouffe) on the roster but he still has a chance to be a pretty good player.

 

I could see him tearing up the NPB league like Wladimir Balentien (single season HR leader IIRC).  That name goes back to the Johan Santana trade rumors when both Balentien and Adam Jones were still with the Mariners.

[Boom Boom]

If some other MLB team wanted to trade somebody for Vargas, that would be just OK with me. Trading Vargas to an Asian team for money when he has an option left seems wasteful.